Sean hesitated. He didn’t want to admit he did nothing to help the soldiers. That would be reason enough to justify his beheading.
The lord stood up. He had already made his decision.
“Commence the beheading!” The lord returned to his warhorse.
Sean couldn’t breathe.
The beheading sword raised.
Sean’s life meant nothing.
The hooded man grunted.
This was the end.
“Sir Peter of Normandy will vouch for me.” Sean’s words tripped up together as they spilled out on his pent up breath.
The hooded man bent back, his arms high over his head.
The lord lifted his hand and Sean closed his eyes. Too late.
The hooded man took a breath.
“Cease!”
Sean tightened in preparation for his head being sliced from his body. A whoosh passed his ear. He waited for the pain. There should be pain.
The hooded man panted beside him.
Sean heard him. He opened his eyes. His head still in place. The beheading sword impaled the ground just in front of him.
“You know Sir Peter?” the lord spoke again.
“Yea! Peter is… a kinsmen of my clan. He’s married the leader’s daughter.”
“Where did you see him last?”
“It was at the Priory south of York. They were about to lay siege to the castle there.” Sean searched his brain for any detail that would stay his execution. “He was with Sir John.”
“Was the king with them?”
“Nae. King William had been delayed and they were to lay siege in anticipation of his arrival. They gave me leave to return home.”
One chance to save his neck.
“To Eire?”
“Yea, my lord.” Mayhap an opportunity to make amends for all his errors. He didn’t want to beg. “My lord, if ye would but send word, Sir Peter would be my witness.”
The lord perused the crowd surrounding him. They were all his to command and all eyes were on him. The entertainment of a good beheading was not lost on the lord. No doubt he weighed their anticipated disappointment. Sean swallowed.
The lord straightened himself, squaring his shoulders, then with one slight tip of his head he said, “To the pillory then.”
Sean exhaled then drew in a sweet breath. And another. He would live to see another day.
The hooded man stepped toward the lord. Sean’s heart dropped to his stomach.
“My lord! If he is brethren to Sir Peter and their clan is held in high esteem by King William, perhaps we need only to shackle him rather than subject him to a public punishment?”
